
The Center for Investigative Reporting and the San Francisco Film Society present Behind the Story: Under Suspicion, at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Film Society’s new theatrical home, San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema (1746 Post St., San Francisco).
Behind the Story, a new series, gives audiences an insider’s look at CIR investigations. Under Suspicion will look at the stories, interviews, videos and an animation that CIR produced in collaboration with NPR to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11. CIR’s G.W. Schulz, Andrew Becker, Carrie Ching, Monica Lam, and Michael Corey will all be on hand to present the many elements of the reporting project.
The joint investigation uncovered that Department of Homeland Security programs such as “If You See Something, Say Something” have resulted in suspicious activity reports about innocent citizens, often without their knowledge. The investigation zeroes in on one location, the Mall of America near Minneapolis, where a large private security operation has questioned thousands of people, often passing their information on to police and even the FBI. Most mall visitors interviewed by CIR and NPR said they were unaware that suspicious activity reports describing their encounters with mall security were shared with local police and could remain in law enforcement files for indefinite periods. The project raises questions about the price Americans have paid for increased security since the terrorist attacks.
Tickets are $9 for SFFS members, $11 general, $10 senior/student/disabled. Tickets are available at sffs.org and in person at San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema.